Bláth fiáin
leah Rea
Over a month ago, I packed my bags and said my goodbyes,
Not knowing what adventures lay stretched out before me
You see, I was undertaking a milestone in my life
(Or rather, over 3000 miles of stones – such is the distance I travelled)
For I was moving out.
Not out of one house to another house,
But rather from one country to another country
one continent to another continent
One life to another life.
Over a month ago, I packed my bags and said my goodbyes,
Wondering about the strange fact of life that is
History repeating itself
Making me yet another Irish traveller setting off for America.
I left not for economic nor personal reasons, but rather
To challenge myself by studying abroad.
But I felt an instant bond with my ancestors that day
As I boarded the plane that would take me away from my home.
Over a month ago, I packed my bags and said my goodbyes
Before arriving in a land so similar and so different to my own.
From the beginning I was embraced with open arms and
Made to feel at ease, at home.
Yet as the sun danced over my shoulders, I wondered
Whether my family basked in its rays, too?
Or when the rain decided to drop little kisses on my face
Is it showing such attention to my friends back home?
Over a month ago, I packed my bags and said my goodbyes
But now my bags are stowed away and my goodbyes have vanished into air.
Time marches on. And it’s okay, for I do too.
Roots have already begun to delve deeper and deeper into new soil.
I am an adopted daughter,
I am a hosted guest
I am adventurer, a free bird
I am a wildflower girl-
Mise Éire.
[Irish/English:
Bláth fiáin: ‘wild flower’
Mise Éire: ‘I am Ireland’.]
Not knowing what adventures lay stretched out before me
You see, I was undertaking a milestone in my life
(Or rather, over 3000 miles of stones – such is the distance I travelled)
For I was moving out.
Not out of one house to another house,
But rather from one country to another country
one continent to another continent
One life to another life.
Over a month ago, I packed my bags and said my goodbyes,
Wondering about the strange fact of life that is
History repeating itself
Making me yet another Irish traveller setting off for America.
I left not for economic nor personal reasons, but rather
To challenge myself by studying abroad.
But I felt an instant bond with my ancestors that day
As I boarded the plane that would take me away from my home.
Over a month ago, I packed my bags and said my goodbyes
Before arriving in a land so similar and so different to my own.
From the beginning I was embraced with open arms and
Made to feel at ease, at home.
Yet as the sun danced over my shoulders, I wondered
Whether my family basked in its rays, too?
Or when the rain decided to drop little kisses on my face
Is it showing such attention to my friends back home?
Over a month ago, I packed my bags and said my goodbyes
But now my bags are stowed away and my goodbyes have vanished into air.
Time marches on. And it’s okay, for I do too.
Roots have already begun to delve deeper and deeper into new soil.
I am an adopted daughter,
I am a hosted guest
I am adventurer, a free bird
I am a wildflower girl-
Mise Éire.
[Irish/English:
Bláth fiáin: ‘wild flower’
Mise Éire: ‘I am Ireland’.]